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W. PEARCE.

THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed June 6, 1898.)

No. 6ll,l40. v Patented Sept. 20, I898.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE WILLIAM PEARCE, OF SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO-MERRITT N. WOODRUFF AND NORMAN A. BARNES, OF

SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,140, dated September 20, 1898.

Application as June 6, 1898. serial No. 682,628. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PEARCE, of Southington, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Thill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of a thill-coupling embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an under side View of the same; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a transverse section through the head of the thill-eye.

This invention relates to an improvement in thill-couplings, and particularly to that class which consists of a clip secured to the axle and formed with two forwardly-projecting ears, between which an eye fixed to the rear end of the thill is inserted and secured by a bolt extending transversely through'the ears and eye. This is the most common form of thill-coupling now in use; but with it some antirattling device between the eye and the clip is necessary. Furthermore, in forming the eye a hole must be drilled entirely through it for the reception of. the retaining-bolt. In connection with thill-couplings safety-straps are also usually employed, and these straps are secured to the axle and extend through loops fixed to the under side of the thills, and these loops are liable to become loosened and rattle.

The object of this invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing the couplings by removing the metal from the central part of the eye, thereby reducing the amount of stock required, and at the same time decreasing the amount of drilling.

A further object is to so arrange a spring that it forms substantially a part of the eye' The clip A is passed over the. axle B and secured in position by nuts or a and formed with forwardly-projecting arms C C in the usual manner, except that in this construction the arms C C may be shorter than those usually employed. The thill-eye comprises a shank D and a head E, said head being adapted to pass and closely fit between the arms C C. In the central portion of the under side of the head is a recess or chamber F, leaving walls G G, in which are holes H H for the passage of a bolt I, which extends through corresponding holes formed in the arms C C. To the outer or under face of the shank a spring J is applied and secured thereto by a bolt K, which is employed for securing the shank to the thill L. The rear end of this spring extends into the chamber F, audits inner face M is segmental, corresponding to the circumference of the bolt H. The end of this spring substantially closes the chamber F and, bearing upon the bolt, prevents any rattling between the eye and clip. The outer end N of the spring J extends beyond the bolt K, and in its inner face is a groove 0, into which is inserted a safety-strap link P, and so that when the spring is bolted to the shank D the said link will be clamped between themand so held against rattling.

.Byforming the eye with the chamber F a saving of material is secured for the reason that the material removed from the head to form the chamber is forced rearward into the shank. Furthermore, by thus forming a chamber in the head less drilling is necessary to form, the bolt-opening, and, if desired, these bolt-openings may be formed by drills entering from opposite sides, and, as before stated, for the reason that it is unnecessary to insert anantirattling device between the eye and the clip the arms C C may be made shorter than usual and hence save material in construction.

Notwithstanding the fact that less metal is employed in the eye than is usually the case the coupling is not materially weakened, for the reason that the bottom of the chamber holds the walls G G in position and so that the spreading or opening of the Walls is prevented, and, furthermore, in the normal position and when in operation the bottom of the chamber stands directly in rear of the bolt. The side edges of the spring which project into the chamber also in a measure support the side walls G G.

The springs are readily formed, and the cost of producing them is more than compensated for by the saving of material and labor in drilling the eye, so that the coupling can be produced as cheap as those at present employed, and the cost of an antirattling device is thereby saved.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip having forwardly-projecting arms, of a thill-eye comprising a shank and a head adapted to pass between said arms, said head and arms having transverse holes for the entrance of a bolt, said head formed in its under face with a chamber, and a spring secured to the shank and extending rearward into said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip having forwardly-extending arms, of a thill-eye comprising a shank and a head,said head and arms having transverse holes for the entrance of a bolt, said head formed with a central chamber, a spring secured to said shank and extending rearward into said chamher, and formed at its outer end with a transverse groove, and a link restin gin said groove, whereby it is clamped between the spring and the shank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM PEARCE. Vitnesses:

WARREN E. SIBLEY, WILLIAM M. HARTLEY. 

